Drivers in Negros Occidental yesterday expressed their disgust over another oil price hike that will be implemented early this morning, and again urged the government to review the implementation of the oil deregulation and TRAIN laws.

Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC)-Piston secretary general, Diego Malacad, said that this new oil price hike will be an added burden for public utility drivers.

It seems to be an “early gift” by the oil companies to the drivers, and it will get worse with the excise tax that will be implemented on January 15, he said.

Shell, Caltex, and SEAOIL will also increase their kerosene prices by P0.40/liter.

“The drivers have not yet recovered from the previous oil increases from Feb. 5 to Sept. 30 last year and now they are giving us an early gift for this year by increasing further the prices,” Malacad said.

UNDOC is demanding that the government review the TRAIN and oil deregulation laws, Malacad said.

Drivers’ pockets will be left empty by these increases plus the proposed phasing out of old public utility vehicles, he added.*